Press Release
CSS Applauds Governor Hochul for Making Consumer Protection and Affordability a Priority in 2024
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered a preview of her `State of the State’ address that focused on several proposals that will strengthen the state’s consumer protections related to medical and student debt as well as new prohibitions on insulin cost-sharing that will benefit New Yorkers diagnosed with diabetes.
As we await more details on her proposals in the coming executive budget, the Community Service Society of New York (CSS) commends the governor for her continued commitment to protecting New Yorkers from medical debt. Thanks to her leadership, New York already prohibits credit bureaus from reporting on medical debt and bans hospitals and healthcare providers from placing liens on patients’ homes and garnishing their wages in medical debt cases.
At today’s press conference, the governor announced a new proposal that will regulate even further New York hospitals’ medical debt collection practices by limiting their ability to sue low-income patients earning less than 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Equally exciting is her announcement that the state will seek to improve income eligibility for hospital financial assistance, which is a nod to the Ounce of Prevention bill (S1366A/A6027A) that CSS and our ‘End Medical Debt’ coalition partners have advocated for the past couple of years. CSS also hopes to work with the governor on another important piece of legislation (A8170/S7778) that would prohibit the state-operated hospitals from suing patients for medical debt.
We’re also pleased to see Governor Hochul recognize the need to address health care costs for the 1.9 million New Yorkers who have diabetes, which disproportionately affects people of color and rural New Yorkers. Current state law caps co-pays for insulin at $100 per member per month. The governor’s proposal would eliminate any cost-sharing for insulin. Research indicates that the elimination of cost-sharing will increase medication adherence, leading to vastly improved health outcomes and overall health care system savings. Depending on how expansive the proposal ends up being, NYS could be the first state to implement this provision broadly.
CSS also applauds the governor for her unwavering commitment to fostering a fair and just economic environment in the state and her endorsement of the Consumer and Small Business Protection Act (CSPA). CSPA is designed to safeguard consumers and small businesses from unfair and abusive practices, bringing New York in alignment with the standards upheld by 42 other states.
As advocates, we are extremely pleased to see the governor focus on consumer protection issues given the urgent need for comprehensive protection in various sectors, notably in student loans and healthcare. In the realm of student loans, CSS has been vocal about the need to shield borrowers from servicers who lead them into forbearances or improper repayment options, leaving them in a precarious financial state. EDCAP, a CSS-administered program, helps student loan holders make informed decisions about managing their student debt for free. Additionally, CSS draws attention to prevalent issues in the healthcare sector, where unscrupulous practices such as overcharging for medical equipment and intentional understaffing in nursing facilities negatively impact New Yorkers. These dishonest practices disproportionately affect low-income, immigrant, Black and brown communities, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Finally, we praise the governor’s plan to increase the maximum benefit for paid medical and disability leave for the first time in 35 years. As one of the organizations that lead the fight for passage of statewide paid family and sick day leave laws in New York, CSS is thrilled to see the governor increasing the maximum paid benefit available to New Yorkers, from $170 a week to $1,200 a week. We also applaud her for her proposal to index minimum wage to inflation, which would provide much-needed relief to New Yorkers struggling with the rising cost of food, housing, education, and healthcare.
We hope all these legislative initiatives aimed at making New York a more affordable and equitable state will soon become a reality.